Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
SDG: Sub-saharan Africa: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes was 6.92 million in 2021. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, 2011–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa is 6.92 million, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 61.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa peaked at 6.92 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4.28 million, in 2011.
That places SDG: Sub-saharan Africa 129th out of 204 groups with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 4.28 million | — |
| 2012 | 4.61 million | +7.9% |
| 2013 | 4.90 million | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 5.15 million | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 5.36 million | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 5.61 million | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 5.90 million | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 6.15 million | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 6.36 million | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 6.62 million | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 6.92 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5.37 million | 4.28 million | 6.36 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.77 million | 6.62 million | 6.92 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- 126 Seychelles 769 compare
- 127 Monaco 762 compare
- 128 Saint Lucia 623 compare
- 129 Liechtenstein 433 compare
- 130 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 82 compare
- 131 Bermuda 0 compare
More education data for SDG: Sub-saharan Africa
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78.55 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.68 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 37.60 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 0.8202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.17 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 191.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 40.94 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa was 6.92 million in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.92 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.28 million in 2011.
- How does SDG: Sub-saharan Africa rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Sub-saharan Africa ranks 129th out of 204 groups with data for 2021.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Sub-saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Sub-saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release